P-atfnt offitf



Jan. 8, 1929.

W. GUNNING ILETOFF MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 15, 1924 k BY K kHfORNEY Patented t5, lltlf lb WILLIAM GUNNING, 01? EASTSN, PENHSYLVABTIE CQRPOBATIOEET Application filed December This invention relates to looms and has for an object the provision of an improved mechanism to regulate the tension on the warp during the 'n-ocess of weaving, and also coup prises an improved letoil mechanisni, it being imderstood that while these improv ments are oi? particular utility when e bodied in the conventional looms tt'or weaving, l con template the use oit' my improvements in any field for which they are adapted by their nature.

In carrying my invention into e'tl cct l prcfer to combine the tension and lct-otl mechanism in an appliance mounted to oscillate bodily about the oi the warp-beam or roll, and to provide means connecting said appliance with the beam to cause oppositely oscillating movements of the appliance by the beam and by a counterbalance, whereby when the beam is rotated by u: 'nding the warp, a moment of counter-rota n is developer by the gravitational resisnncr-z ot the appliance to displacement from its normal position, thus causing the bean, to exert tension on the warp, and I provide also preferably means to cause relative rota ion between the beam and appliance at times, to vary the countcr-rotative moment automatically, and relieve the tension, to let oil the warp.

In practice, the appliance preferably tithe/S the form of a car ier havinr, a beari journallod upon the beam-pin, and carrying a worm meshing with a \voi'rn-geu upon t .c beamiiang e, the worm-shaft having a ratchetand-pawl actuated by lever caused. to reci, rocate by a suit ile connection with the picker shatt or cam sua'it of the loom.

ll hon the warp wound upon the beam is placed. undrr tension during); and by the operation oi weaving, and the beam is thereby rotated UiU-I'lixVlt40, 'ior example, the \vornn shalt carrier is swung" from its lower posi tion, which it assumes normally by uravi, around to a pos' ion where the wright o; re carrier and the worm-shaft increa es the tension upon the warp by reason of the fact that the weight of these parts resists the turning movement of the beam.

at the same time the ratchet-and-paw]. mechanism is brought into a position where it is operated by its actuating lever to turn the worm-shaft and rotate the worm-gear and beam-flange, lfittlll QPOil the warp, or reducing the tension thereon, until this action has been. carried on suiiiciently long to cause PATENT raiser rice.

ASSIGNGR T0 It. 6:; H. SIMON 00., A OF NEW E031- LOUIS/IS.

15, 195%. Serial No. 755,295.

the return of the oscillating appliance to its normal position, at which it is in such relation to the actuating lever that the latter only engages the pawl sufficiently to maintain the parts in this normal position, letting-oft the warp at the rate desired.

Conversely, if the warp is let-oil too rapidly, so that it is too slack, the appliance is caused. to rotate counter-clockwise around the axis of the beam by means of a weight attached to one side of the appliance, this 0scillat-ion of the appliance being in the opposite direction, so that the pawl is swung tar ther away from the actuating lever and the latter does not engage the pawl at all, or else operates the pawl with such a small throw as to reduce the speed of let-oil, until the slack has all been taken up and the parts brought back to position for normal operation, which will then continue already described.

Thus the warp is maintained under a steady tension and. is let-off more regularly than by conventional mechanism, which is usually more complicated in structure, less compact and more expensive than my improved mechanism, both as to installation and maintenancc.

Referring to the drawings Figure l is a fragmentary View of a somewhat diaprammatic character in side eleva tion of the portions of a loom cooperating to carry my invention into effect.

Figure 2 is a view in section entire line HH of Figure 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the part designated by the reference character 1 is roll, which for the sake of illustration may be considered as the warp-beam of a loom, the loom being indicated as of conventional structure in its general arrangement, having roi"- erably a whip-roll 2 over which the warp 3 is led from the beam to the weaving; mechanism, the latter not requiring illustration. and description as it forms no part of my present invention.

In accordance with an important feature of my invention, 1 have shown an appliance 4i mounted to oscillate about the axis of the beam, for which purpose it may conveniently be journalled upon the beam-pin 5, this appliance being); connected with the beam so that the appliance is caused to oscillate by rotation of the beam, whereby when the beam is rotated in a clockwise direction a moment of counter-rotation is developed by the resist-ance of theappliance to displacement from the position shown in Figure 1, which it assumes normally by gravity, and in which position it maintains the desired tension up on the warp 3, the gravitational actionbeing preterabl enhanced by the provision of a suitable weight 6 suspended by a stirrup 7 from a pin 8 carried by asuitable part of the carrier 1-.

The means by which the beam and appliance 4: are connected for co-rotation about the pin 5 preferably takes thetorm of? a worm 9 carried by a worm-shaft 10 mounted in bearings 11 upon the carri-er l, the shaft, 10 being provided preferably with a handavheel 12 for manual actuationwhen desirable, and having also a ratcl1-etwheel 13, for the actu ation of which a pawl 1 L is shown mounted. upon a lever 15 which is centered upon. the shaft 10 and is actuated by any suitable means, such for enample'as a lever 16 lulcrumed at 17 upon a suitable of the -frame of the loom, and connectedadj ustably at 18 *ith an arm forming part of an eccen tricstrap 19 co-operating with ancccentric 20 fast upon the picker-shatt or camshaft 21 of the loom. I The hand-wheel 12 serves as a means to permit manual adjustment of.

the worm shaft 10 and worm ,9 relatively-to the worm 22 for the purpose of varying the relative position of the appliance rotatively about the axis of said roll, independently of the operation thereof by the levers 15 and 16, the ratchet wheel 13, and pawl 14.

As the cam-shaft 21 rotates, the end of the lever-16 under the pawl-carrier 15 rises and.

falls with each revolution of the shaft. The position of actuating contactis shown at16. As the lever rises, it strikes lifts the pawl-carrier, and the pawl 1. L engagcs one of the teethof the ratchet-wheel 13 and the wheel is turned as long as the lever moves upward. The 1 wormrshait 10 and worm 9 are also operated, and turn a cooperating:wornrgear 22 upon the beam-flange, causing the beam to rotatein a clockwise direction and causing portion of its arc of motion. This produces,

at each stroke ofthe lever 16, a larger part of a revolution of the ratchet-wheel and eonsequent increase in the speed of let-off.

As a preliminary to this increase 01 speed the operation of the worm causes the carrier tojrotate relatively to the beam, gradually diminishing the'mom'ent oi? rotation of the beam and relieving the tension upon the warp gradually until'the carrier reaches the normal position shown in Figure 1.

Conversely, if the warp is let-oil too fast, the action of the weight will cause the beam and carrier to rotate counter-clockwise until the pawl 14-iis less in the path of the lever 16 and so the ratchet'is turned through smaller ar ot a revolutionv at each stroke, and the 1 Je noted that the normal position -l appliance is preferably below the axis it wil or t of the roll shaft 5, and as the a pliance is rotated clockwi e the effective lever arm con stituted-by the portion of the appliance be tween the axis 5 and the point of suspension oi counter rotation decreasedugraduallywhen actuated by the lever 16. Y

Accordingly, by these gradual variations in the moment of rotation of the beam, :the appliance tends to maintain automatically an even tension on the warp and to feed it smoothly at the proper rate, changes of speed.

By mounting the appliance below the roll, it is not only possible to have the appliance itself. hang in normally balanced position, subject to the action of the. weight, but by such organization of the appliance it is entirely out of the wa and the handle 12 is presented for ready operation manually.

Having described my invention, 1 claim 1. In a loom, the combination with a roll, adapted to receive a supply of flexible mate rial, and mounted rotatively for unwinding said material, of a let-off appliance mounted to oscillate bodily about the axis of said roll, and means cormectinn' said appliance with said roll and adapied to act positively to cause oscillating movement of 'd appliance by said roll, whereby when said roll is rotated by said unwinding, a moment o't counter-rotation is developed and tension is placed upon. said material by the resistance of said appliance to displacement from its normal posisaid appliance normally occupying); a

beneath the axis of said roll.

1 a loom, the combination with a roll, d to receive a supply at flexible maand mounted rotatively for unwinding said material, oi a let-otl appliance mounted to oscillate bodily about the axis of said roll and normally occupying a position beneath said axis; means. connecting said appliance with said roll and-actin positively to cause oscillating movement 01" said appliance in one direction bysaid roll, when said material is unwound; means tending constantly toflmaintam said appliance inYsa-id avoidino' sudden llll osses? in normal position and acting to impart tension to said material independently of the counter-rotative movement developed by displacement of said appliance from its normal position; means to permit manual. adjustment of said connecting means to vary the relative position of said appliance rotatively about the axis of said roll; and means acting positively to cause relative rotation between said roll and appliance at times to decrease said counter-rotative moment automatically, and. to restore said appliance to its normal position, so that said instrumentalities co-operate to maintain automatically an even tension on said flexible material and to feed it smoothly at the proper rate of speed.

3. In a loom, the eoniibination with a roll, of a let-off appliance mounted to oscillate bodily about the axis of said roll and means connecting said appliance with said roll and adapted to act positively to cause oscillating movement of said appliance by said roll, whereby when said roll is rotated an increased moment of countei'a'otation is de veloped by the gravitational resistance of said appliance to displacement from its norn'ial position, and means including an adjustable lever, acting positively to cause relative rotation between said roll and appliance at times to decrease said counterrotative moment automatically.

l. In a loom, the combination with a warpbeam, of a let-ofl? appliance mounted to oscillate bodily about the axis of said beam; means connecting said appliance with said beam and adapted to act positively to cause oscillating movement of said appliance by said beam, whereby when said beam is ro tated, an increased moment of counter-rotation is developed by the gravitational resistance of said appliance to displacement from its normal position, and means acting positively to cause relative rotation between said. l'ieam and a ppliance at times to decrease said counter-rotative moment auton'iatically, said appliance comprising a carrier journallcd rotatively upon the axis oi? said beam, and said connective means including a worm- ;rear upon said beam and a manually adjustable cooperating worm upon said carrier, said worn] and worm-gauserviug also as means to cause relative rotation between said i am and appliance, in conjunction with operating devices actuated by a source of power connected with the loom.

5. In a loom, the combination with a warpbeam provided with a worm-gear, of a combined tension and let-off appliance comprising a carrier mounted to oscillate about the axis of said beam and normally occupying a position below said axis, said appliance having a worm meshing with said worm-gear and movable bodily with said carrier about said axis, whereby when said beam is rotated in one direction by unwinding of. the warp therefrom in weaving, a moment of counter-rotation is developed by the gravitational retance of said appliance to displacement from its said beam to exert tension upon said warp; means to augment said gravitational tension; and means to actuate said worm and wormgear to relieve said tension and let-ofi' said warp automatically by causing relative rotation between said beam and carrier.

6. In a loom, the combination wit-h a warpbeam provided. with a worm-gear, of a com bined tension and let-oil appliance comprising a carrier mounted to oscillate about the axis of said beam and normally occupying a position below said axis, said appliance having a. worm n'ieshing with said wormgear and movable bodily with said carrier about said axis, whereby when said beam is rotated in one direction by unwinding or" the warp therefrom in weaving, a moment of counter-rotation is developed by the gravitational resistance of said appliance to displacement trom its normal position, thereby causing said beam to exert tension upon said warp; means to augment said gravitational tension; and means to actuate said worm and worm-gear to relieve said tension and let-oft said arp automatically by causing relative rotation between said beam and carrier, said actuating means comprising a pawl-and ratchet mechanism connected with said worm and adapted to oscillate bodily with said carrier, and in conjunction therewith an actuating lever mounted upon said loom and driven thereby to reciprocate in fixed adjust-ive relation to said pawl-and-ratchet mechanism; and acting to engage the same actuatively in varying degree proportionately to the extent of displacen'ient of said carrier rotativ-el y from its normal position, lending constantly to restore said carrier and its associated parts to said normal position, so that said instruinentalitios co-oporate to maintain automatically an even tension on the warp and to feed it smoothly at the proper rate of speed.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification.

VVILLIAIVI GUNNING.

normal position, thereby causing 

